Electric switch or disconnecting device for telephones.



PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

L. J. FLBTCHALL. ELEOTRIG SWITCH OR DISGON NEGTING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1904.

Le ma JflZeZC/zaM Ll l witne s e s fe Inventor- Httomeg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

LEONARD J. FLETCHALL, OF HATFIELD, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO MARK L. BELDEN, OF HATFIELD, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC SWITCH OR DISCONNECTING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed August 11, 1904- Serial No. 220,443.

To (all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONARD J. FLETGHALL, a citizen, of the United States, residing at Hatfield, in the county of Harrison and State of Missouri, have invented an Improved Electric Switch or Disconnecting Device for Telephones, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches or cut-outs for telephones, telegraphs, and other electrical instruments, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and eflicient device of this character by means of which the telephone or telegraph instrument may be readily disconnected from the main line in case of an electrical storm, thereby preventing the instrument from being burned out or otherwise damaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch adapted to be mounted on a suitable frame or support outside the house or other structure in which the electrical instruments are located, said switch being movable to open and closed positions through the medium of an actuating cord or chain, one endof which is connected to the switch-blade and the opposite end thereof extended within the building, so that the switch may be operated without the necessity of leaving said building.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements herein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportions, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

The improved switch is mounted on a supporting-frame preferably arranged a short distance from the building and consisting of a pair of uprights 5 and 6, connected in any suitable manner, as by a cross-beam 7 The upright 6 is somewhat shorter than the upright 5, and fastened to the end of the former is a laterally-projecting arm 8, to which is secured a contact-clip 9, said clip being preferably formed of a single piece of metal, the ends of which are curved laterally, as inclicated at 10, to form guides for the switchblade 11.

The switch-blade 11 is pivoted in abracket 12, secured to upright 5, and is normally held in contact with the clip 9 by means of a preferably coiled spring 13, one end of which is fastened to a lug 14, secured to said upright, while the opposite end thereof engages an opening or aperture in the end of an insulating-strip 15, fastened in any suitable manner to the back of the switch-blade, as shown. Secured to the opposite end of the strip 15 is a cord, chain, or other flexible medium 16, which passes over guide rollers or pulleys 17 and 18 and thence through an opening in the wall of the building and terminates in a ring or loop 19, adapted to engage a suitable hook 20 when the switch-blade is moved to open position.

Secured to the upright 5, as by staples 21, is a ground-wire 22, the upper or free end of which terminates in a laterally-extending contact-arm 23, which engages the switch-blade 11 when a longitudinal pull is exerted on the cord or chain', so that incase of electrical storms the current, instead of flowing from the main line 2% through the switch-blade and house wire 25 to the telephone, will flow through the switch-blade 11 and wire 22 to the ground, thereby preventing the instruments from being burned out or otherwise damaged by the excessive current.

The guide-pulleys are preferably arranged one above and the other below the switchsupporting bracket 12, while a block of rubber or insulating material 26 is interposed between said bracket and the upright 5, a similar block 27 being also interposed between the contact-clip 9 and the arm 8, as shown.

The operation of the device will now be readily understood. l/Vhen in working or normal position, the parts are, as shown, in full lines. If for any reason, as in case of an electrical storm, it is desired to disconnect or cut out the telephone or telegraph instrument from the main line, a longitudinal pull is exerted on the cord or chain 16 and the terminal ring of the latter passed over the hook 20, thereby causing the switch-blade to contact with the arm 23 and the current to flow from the main line through the wire 22 to ground. IVhen the ring is released from the hook, the

spring 13 Will automatically return the switchblade to operative position, in which position the current will flow from the main line through the switch-blade and house-Wire to the telephone instrument, as before stated.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is 1. In a device ofthe class described, the combination With a support, of house and line terminals carried thereby, a switch-blade for normally connecting the house and line terminals, a ground-Wire secured to the support and having one end thereof bent laterally to form a terminal contact-arm, and a flexible medium connected to the switch-blade for moving the latter in contact With the terminal of the ground-Wire.

2. In adeviee of the class described, the combination With a support, of house and line terminals carried thereby, a switch-blade for normally connecting the house and line terminals, a ground-Wire secured to the support and having one end thereof bent to form a terminal contact-arm, a flexible medium connected to the switch-blade for moving the latter in contact With the terminal of the ground-Wire, and means for automatically returning the switch-blade to normal position.

3. In adeviee of the class described, the combination with a support, of house and line terminals carried thereby, a switch-blade for normally connecting the house and line terminals, pulleys journaled on the support above and below the switch-blade, a ground-Wire carried by said support and having one end thereof bent to form a terminal contact-arm, a cord having one end thereof secured to the switch-blade and its op posite end passing over said pulleys and provided with a fastening means, said cord being adapted to move the switch-blade in contact with the terminal of the ground-Wire, and a spring carried by the support and secured to the switch-blade for automatically returning the latter to normal position when the cord is released.

4;. In a device of the class described, the combination With a pair of spaced uprights, a lineterminal secured on one upright, a house-terminal carried by the opposite upright, a pivoted switch-blade for normally connecting the house and line terminals, a ground-wire secured to one of said uprights and having its free end bent laterally to form a terminal contact-arm, a cord secured to the switch-arm for moving the latter in contact With terminal of the ground-Wire, and a spring for returning said switch-blade to normal position.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of spaced uprights, a lineterminal secured to one of said uprights, a spring contact-clip secured to the opposite upright and forming a house line-terminal, a switch-blade pivoted to the line-terminal and adapted to normally engage the spring-clip for connecting the line and house terminals, an insulating-strip carried by said blade, pulleys journaled on the adjacent upright above and below the switch-blade, a ground-wire extending parallel With one of the uprights and having its free end bent laterally to form a terminal contact-arm, an operating-cord passing over the pulleys and secured to the insulating-strip of the switch blade for moving the latterin contact with the terminal of the ground-Wire, and a spring secured to said insulating-strip and to one of the u 'irights for returning the switch-blade to operative position when the operating-cord is released.

LEONARD J. FLE'ICHALL.

\Vitnesses:

WALLACE HUBBARD, W. H. .KIMBALL. 

